About
The East Texas Auto and Cycle Show

How the show got started and what it is today.

In June of 1990 the Executive Director of the East Texas Crisis
Center, Dawn Franks, was contacted by Dr. Richard Ulrich, asking the
agency to be the recipient of a new fundraising event. The first
Classic Car Show was held the following Spring on March 9th and 10th
at the Oil Palace in Tyler. Net proceeds from this first show was
$4,850. In addition to the show a sports car was purchased by the
agency at dealer’s cost and raffled off during the show. The car
raffle raised $15,348 giving a combined revenue of $20,198 to help
support victims of family violence and sexual assault.

Craig Chesley and Ronny Anderson were charter members of the original committee
that planned and hosted the 1991 event. Today the East Texas Auto &
Cycle Show Committee is comprised of 12 members, most who have
served on the committee for more than a decade. Joining Craig and
Ronny are Danny Alexander, Collin Anderson, Jerry Gorman, Janie Harrelson, Jimmy Hayes, Jimmie Horton, Robert Owens, Tom Tyler, Matt Renick, and Curtis Warren.

The revenue from the show grew steadily each
year and generated $20,000 in 1998. The committee then proposed
another car raffle venture. Members of the Mustangs of East Texas
located an old dilapidated 1965 Mustang and restored it to “show
quality”. The cost of the car in it’s original condition was $2,600
which generated $19,000 in raffle ticket sales. The combined effort
with the show revenue generated a total of $60,000 for the East
Texas Crisis Center in year 2000.

Another major milestone presented
itself in 2004 when David Irwin, General Manager & Managing Partner
of Tyler Ford, stepped up with a donation of a 1965 Mustang. Tyler
Ford has since donated a raffle car for eight consecutive years. A
2007 Black Shelby Hertz was donated for the 2010 show which
generated $100,000 for the agency in $10 raffle ticket sales.

Tyler
Ford has donated a new 2011 Mustang for the 2011 East Texas Auto &
Cycle Show to be held at Harvey Convention Center February 18-20,
2011. The Auto & Cycle Show Committee works throughout the year
planning each show. Each year committee members work to create a
whole new show with vehicle entries that have never been seen and
recruit special interest vehicles featuring an annual special series
collection.

From humble beginnings in 1991 when the first show and
car raffle raised $20,000 the show and car raffle now raises
$150,000 to $170,000 in net proceeds for the East Texas Crisis
Center each year.

Through hard work and dedication the men and women
who serve on the East Texas Auto & Cycle Show Committee are deeply
committed to the support of women and children who are forced out of
their own homes to escape violence and abuse.

ETCC Executive Director Lana Peacock posing with a 1955 Chevy Bel-Air owned Michael Davis. The car won first place for the Sedan Category, Outstanding Interior Car, and Outstanding Display Car at the 2013 show.